Pear tree named &#39;NC4&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘NC4’ is a new and distinct variety of pear tree ( Pyrus communis ), selected from seedlings produced as the result of a cross between female parent ‘Concorde’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,192) and male parent ‘Red Williams’ (not patented). ‘NC4’ is distinguished by its fruit, the skin color of which is red-purple at harvest, turning to red-orange upon ripening.

Latin name: Pyrus communis.

Variety denomination: ‘NC4’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

‘NC4’ is a new and distinct variety of pear tree (Pyrus communis), selected from seedlings produced as the result of a cross made in 2007 between female parent ‘Concorde’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,192) and male parent ‘Red Williams’ (not patented). ‘NC4’ was selected and first asexually propagated by budding 2008, and has been observed to remain true to type over successive asexually propagated generations. The original cross, selection and subsequent asexual propagation of the new variety were carried out at Staplehurst, Tonbridge, Kent, United Kingdom.

‘NC4’ is distinguished by its fruit, the skin color of which is red-purple at harvest, turning to red-orange upon ripening. Comparisons of ‘NC4’ to its parents and similar variety ‘Sweet Sensation’ (not patented) are set forth in the following tables.

TABLE 1 Comparison of ‘NC4’ to ‘Concorde' Characteristic ‘NC4’ ‘Concorde’ Fruit skin color after storage Red-orange Green-yellow Fruit maturity Later Earlier Aroma More aromatic Less aromatic Branch thickness Thinner Thicker Leaf color Darker Lighter

TABLE 2 Comparison of ‘NC4’ to ‘Red Williams’ Characteristic ‘NC4’ ‘Red Williams’ Fruit maturity Later Earlier Storage ability Longer Shorter Fruit Shape Elongated Intermediate Russet at stem end More russet Less russet Bloom time Later Earlier

TABLE 3 Comparison of ‘NC4’ to ‘Sweet Sensation’ Characteristic ‘NC4’ ‘Sweet Sensation’ Russet at stem end More russet Less russet Fruit Shape Elongated Short to intermediate Area of overcolor More overcolor Less overcolor Flavor Similar to ‘Red Williams’ Similar to ‘Cornice’ Fruit Maturity Later Earlier

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the fruit of ‘NC4’;

FIG. 3 shows trees and fruit of ‘NC4’;

FIG. 4 shows a flower bud of ‘NC4’;

FIG. 5 shows blossoms of ‘NC4’;

FIG. 6 shows a leaf of ‘NC4’;

FIG. 7 shows the trunk of ‘NC4’; and

FIG. 8 shows a vegetative bud of ‘NC4’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following botanical description is based on observations made during the 2016 and 2017 growing seasons at Seiches sur le Loir, France of two- and three-year-old trees grown on ‘SYDO’ rootstock (not patented). All colors are described according to The Royal Horticultural Society Mini Colour Chart (2005). It should be understood that the characteristics described will vary somewhat depending upon cultural practices and climatic conditions, and will vary with location and season. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average of measurements taken from a number of individual plants of the new variety. The measurements of any individual plant or any group of plants of the new variety may vary from the stated average.

-   Tree:     -   -   Vigor.—Weak.         -   Type.—Half-spur.         -   Habit.—Fastigiate.         -   Height.—3 m.         -   Trunk diameter (at 30 cm above the graft).—26 mm.         -   Bark texture.—Smooth with lenticels.         -   Bark color.—Grey N200C.         -   Winter hardiness.—Moderate. -   Branch (fruiting branches located at about 1 m above the graft     union):     -   -   Length.—30 cm.         -   Diameter.—9 mm.         -   Crotch angle.—80°.         -   Bark color.—Grey N200C. -   One year old shoot:     -   -   Length.—28 cm.         -   Color.—Dark Brown 200B.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Thickness.—7 mm.         -   Internode length.—21 mm.         -   Number of lenticels per cm ².—5.         -   Vegetative bud shape.—Pointed.         -   Vegetative bud color.—Dark brown 200B.         -   Position of buds in relation to shoot.—Adjoined. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Quantity per spur.—1 to 10.         -   Shape.—Swollen and pointed.         -   Length.—9 mm.         -   Diameter.—5 mm.         -   Color.—Dark brown 200B and orange brown 166C. -   Flowers:     -   -   Diameter of fully open flower.—27 mm.         -   Depth of open flower.—6 mm.         -   Relative position of petal margin.—Not touching.         -   Number per cluster.—6.         -   Date of first bloom.—‘Conference’ +1 day (Mar. 29, 2017).         -   Date of full bloom.—Same as ‘Conference’ (Mar. 30, 2017).         -   Pollination requirement.—Yes — ‘Conference’, ‘Rocha’,             ‘Guyot’. -   Petals:     -   -   Number per flower.—5.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Length.—14 mm.         -   Width.—9 mm.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Smooth.         -   Color of upper surface.—White 155C.         -   Color of lower surface.—White 155C. -   Pistils:     -   -   Size.—11 mm.         -   Color.—Yellow-green 145A. -   Stigma:     -   -   Size.—1 mm.         -   Color.—Yellow-green 145A. -   Style:     -   -   Length.—7 mm.         -   Color.—Yellow-green 149D. -   Ovary:     -   -   Size.—3 mm.         -   Color.—Green 146C. -   Anthers:     -   -   Quantity.—20.         -   Length.—7 mm.         -   Presence of pollen.—Yes.         -   Color of pollen.—Light yellow 8C. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—22 mm.         -   Diameter.—1 mm.         -   Color.—Purple brown 183A. -   Sepals:     -   -   Quantity.—5.         -   Color.—Brown 199A and yellow-green 145A.         -   Length.—6 mm.         -   Width.—2 mm.         -   Shape.—Pointed.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Smooth.         -   Attitude in relation to corolla.—Touching. -   Leaves:     -   -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Length.—62 mm.         -   Width.—42 mm.         -   Blade margin.—Bluntly serrate.         -   Apex.—Right angled with a tip.         -   Base shape.—Obtuse.         -   Color of upper surface.—Green 136A.         -   Color of lower surface.—RHS 137C.         -   Attitude in relation to shoot.—Outward. -   Petiole:     -   -   Length.—37 mm.         -   Diameter.—1 mm.         -   Color.—Yellow-green 145A.         -   Stipule color.—Yellow-green 145A.         -   Stipule shape.—Pointed and stretched.         -   Stipule length.—12 mm.         -   Stipule width.—0.5 mm.         -   Stipule apex.—Pointed. -   Fruit:     -   -   Quantity per cluster.—2 to 4.         -   Height.—98 mm.         -   Width.—71 mm.         -   Weight.—213 g.         -   General shape in profile.—Pyriform, elongated.         -   Position of maximum diameter.—Slightly towards calyx.         -   Symmetry in longitudinal section.—Moderate to high.         -   Profile of sides.—Concave.         -   Skin texture.—Slightly rough.         -   Background color of skin (after storage).—Yellow brown 163A.         -   Area of over color of skin.—Medium to large (50% to 80%).         -   Intensity of over color of skin.—Medium.         -   Color of overcolor.—Red brown 171A and red 45A.         -   Relative area of russet around eye basin.—Moderate.         -   Relative area of russet on cheeks.—Weak to moderate.         -   Relative area of russet on stalk attachment.—High.         -   Length of stalk.—22 mm.         -   Thickness of stalk.—3 mm.         -   Curvature of stalk.—Moderate.         -   Attitude of stalk in relation to axis of fruit.—Slightly             angled.         -   Stalk color.—Dark brown 165A.         -   Depth of eye basin.—5 mm.         -   Width of eye basin.—16 mm.         -   Attitude of sepals at harvest.—Dry.         -   Firmness of flesh.—Quite firm at harvest, 7 kg/0.5 cm².         -   Flesh texture.—Smooth.         -   Aroma.—Similar to ‘Red Williams’.         -   Juiciness.—Average to High.         -   Brix.—12.5 ° Brix.         -   Flesh coloration.—White 155B. -   Seeds:     -   -   Quantity per fruit.—6 to 8.         -   Shape.—Oval-oblong.         -   Length.—10 mm.         -   Width.—5 mm.         -   Color.—Dark brown 200C and yellow brown N167A. -   Harvest:     -   -   Time for harvest.—Early October (about 3 weeks after             ‘Conference’).         -   Time of maturity for consumption.—November to March.         -   Amount of fruit produced per tree per harvest.—About 30 (3rd             leaf).         -   Disease resistance/susceptibility.—Under evaluation, not             known.         -   Market use.—Fresh fruit, table fruit.         -   Storage characteristics.—Cold store around 0°C. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct pear tree substantially as described and illustrated herein. 